London-listed firm Lords has acquired the trade and assets of Plymouth-based CMO for approximately £1.8 million through a pre-pack administration deal. This acquisition will secure the jobs of around 120 employees at CMO, which was founded in 2008 and specializes in selling over 140,000 products to trade professionals and households via various superstore-branded websites.

CMO, previously listed on London’s AIM stock market, delisted in February to preserve funds. The acquisition does not include CMO’s Tiles business. Dean Murray, CMO’s CEO, expressed optimism about the future, highlighting the strong digital foundation built over the past 15 years and the alignment of ambitions with Lords.

Shanker Patel, CEO of Lords, welcomed CMO into the group, emphasizing the synergy between CMO’s digital platform and Lords’ traditional merchanting strengths. He acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding the pre-pack administration process and committed to a respectful transition for all affected parties.